Landscape Shrub Rose Plant Named &#39;MEIRIFTDAY&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Landscape Shrub Rose plant, herein referred to by its cultivar name, ‘MEIRIFTDAY’, is provided which forms very abundantly on a nearly continuous basis attractive, flat cup-shaped, dark pink colored blossoms. Attractive, glossy, dense foliage is formed, which contrasts beautifully with the blossoms. The disease tolerance is good, particularly against Black Spot. The new variety is well suited for proving attractive ornamentation in the landscape and is very floriferous.

Botanical/commercial classification: Latin name—Rosa hybrida. Common name—Landscape Shrub Rose Plant.

Varietal denomination: ‘MEIRIFTDAY’.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Rosa hybrida Landscape Shrub Rose plant was created by artificial pollination wherein two parents were crossed which previously had been studied in the hope that they would contribute the desired characteristics. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) was the ‘KORIMRO’ variety (non-patented in the United States). The male parent (i.e., the pollen parent) was an unnamed seedling variety (non-patented in the United States).

The parentage of the new variety can be summarized as follows:

‘KORIMRO’ x ‘UNNAMED SEEDLING’

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and small plants were obtained which were physically and biologically different from each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of a single plant of the new variety.

It was found that the new variety of Landscape Shrub Rose plant of the present invention possesses the following combination of characteristics:

(a) very abundantly and nearly continuously forms attractive, flat cup-shaped, dark pink colored blossoms,

(b) forms attractive, dense, glossy foliage,

(c) exhibits good tolerance to diseases, particularly against Black Spot,

(d) is very floriferous, and

(e) is well suited for providing attractive ornamentation.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry. It can be grown to advantage as ornamentation in parks, gardens, public areas, and in residential settings. Accordingly, the plant is particularly well suited for growing in the landscape.

The new variety of the present invention can readily be distinguished from its ancestors. More specifically, the ‘KORIMRO’ variety (i.e., the seed parent) exhibits light pink colored blossoms, whereas the new variety exhibits dark pink colored blossoms. In addition, the male parent, the ‘UNNAMED SEEDLING’ variety, (i.e., the pollen parent) exhibits yellow colored flowers, whereas the new variety exhibits dark pink colored flowers. Moreover, the new variety can be readily distinguished from other similar non-parental varieties. For example, the ‘MEIJOCOS’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,874) provides a lower petal count compared to the new variety.

The new variety has been found to undergo asexual propagation in France by a number of routes, including budding, grafting, and the use of cuttings. Asexual propagation by the above-mentioned techniques in France has shown that the characteristics of the new variety are stable and are strictly transmissible by such asexual propagation from one generation to another. Accordingly, the new variety undergoes asexual propagation in a true-to-type manner.

The new variety has been named ‘MEIRIFTDAY’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photographs show as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same, in a color illustration of this character, typical specimens of the plant parts of the new variety. The rose plants of the new variety were approximately two years of age and were observed during November while budded on their own roots and growing outdoors at Le Cannet des Maures, Var, France.

FIG. 1—illustrates a specimen of a plant while growing in a pot, which shows the floriferous characteristics of the variety.

FIG. 2—illustrates a specimen of a plant while growing in a pot, which shows the detail of the flower and foliage.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S. Color Chart), London, England. The terminology which precedes reference to the chart has been added to indicate the corresponding color in more common terms. The description is based on the observation of two-year-old specimens of the new variety during November while budded on their own roots and growing outdoors at Le Cannet des Maures, Var, France.

-   Class: Landscape Shrub Rose Plant. -   Plant:     -   -   Habit.—Bushy.         -   Height.—Approximately 40 cm on average.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 50 cm on average. -   Branches:     -   -   Size.—Length: typically between 15 cm to 30 cm. — diameter:             typically between 0.2 cm to 0.5 cm.         -   Color.—Young stems: commonly near Yellow-Green Group 146B. —             adult wood: Commonly near Yellow-Green Group 146A.         -   Thorns.—Configuration on adult stems: elongated and curved             downwards on the upper surface and concave on the under             surface. — long prickles (≥0.4 cm) — quantity: commonly             approximately 8 thorns per 10 cm long young stem and             approximately 5 thorns per 10 cm long adult stem. — long             prickles (≥0.4 cm) — base shape: oval. — long prickles             (≥0.4 cm) — size: commonly near 0.4 cm in length on average             on young stems and commonly near 0.6 cm in length on average             on adult stems. — long prickles (≥0.4 cm) — color: commonly             near Greyed-Red Group 182B on young stems and commonly near             Greyed-Orange Group 173A on adult stems. — small prickles             (<0.4 cm): none observed. -   Foliage:     -   -   General appearance.—Dense with a glossy aspect.         -   Number of leaflets.—3, 5, and 7; most often 7.         -   Terminal leaflet.—Length: approximately 3.0 cm on average. —             width: approximately 2.5 cm on average.         -   New foliage.—Upper surface color: commonly near Green Group             137C. — under surface color: commonly near Yellow-Green             Group 147C.         -   Adult foliage.—Upper surface color: commonly near             Yellow-Green Group 147A. — under surface color: commonly             near Yellow-Green Group 146B.         -   Entire leaf.—Length: typically between 6 cm to 8 cm. —             width: typically between 3.5 cm to 5.5 cm. -   Leaflets:     -   -   Shape.—Tip: obtuse. — base: cupsidate.         -   Texture.—Leathery.         -   General appearance.—Oval.         -   Edge.—Slightly denticulate.         -   Serration.—Small and single.         -   Petiole rachis.—Length: typically between 2.5 cm to 3.5 cm.             — diameter: approximately 0.1 cm on average. — color of             upper surface: commonly near Yellow-Green Group 146A. —             color of under surface: commonly near Yellow-Green Group             146B.         -   Petioles.—Upper surface: no glandular. — under surface: few             prickles. — color of upper surface: commonly near             Yellow-Green Group 146A. — color of under surface: commonly             near Yellow-Green Group 146B. — length: typically between             1.5 cm to 2.0 cm. — diameter: approximately 0.1 cm on             average. — petiole length of terminal leaflet: commonly near             2.5 cm on average. — petiole diameter of terminal leaflet:             approximately 0.1 cm on average.         -   Stipules.—General appearance: adnate, pectinate and broad. —             length: approximately 0.8 cm on average. — width:             approximately 1.0 cm on average. — color of upper surface:             commonly near Yellow-Green Group 146D. — color of under             surface: commonly near Yellow-Green Group 146B. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Number of flowers per stem.—Generally between 3 and 14             flowers per stem.         -   Lastingness of the bloom.—Commonly between 10 to 15 days.         -   Bud.—Shape: conical. — size: small. — length: approximately             1.5 cm on average. — width: approximately 1.0 cm on average.             — color as calyx breaks: upper surface: commonly near Red             Group 53D. under surface: commonly near Red Group 50A.         -   Sepals.—Number commonly 5. — length: approximately between             1.9 cm on average. — width: approximately near 0.7 cm on             average. — shape: typically between 2 and 5 little glandular             extensions, which are approximately 0.5 cm in length on             average, at the top: elongated, at the base: upright. —             upper surface: texture: tomentous. color: commonly near             Yellow-Green Group 146D. — under surface: texture: smooth.             color: commonly near Yellow-Green Group 148D.         -   Receptacle.—Color: commonly near Yellow-Green Group 146D. —             length: approximately 0.7 cm on average. — width:             approximately 0.6 cm on average. — surface: smooth. — shape:             pitcher shaped.         -   Peduncle.—Length: approximately 3.2 cm on average. — width:             approximately 0.5 cm on average. — surface: pubescent. —             color: commonly near Yellow-Green Group 146D.         -   Flower.—Average diameter when fully open: approximately 5.0             to 6.0 cm on average. — depth: typically between 1.5 cm to             2.0 cm. — borne: commonly between 3 to 14 flowers per stem.             — shape: flat cup shaped. — number of petals under normal             conditions: approximately 20 to 24 petals on average. —             shape of the petal: triangular shape. base: obtuse. top:             rounded. — petal margin: undulated and become edged when             ageing. — texture of the petal: leathery. — petal length:             approximately 3.2 cm on average. — petal width:             approximately 2.9 cm on average. — petal arrangement:             imbricated with some petaloids. — petal drop: petals drop             off cleanly before drying. — fragrance: none. — color when             opening: upper surface: commonly near Red-Purple Group 57C,             very little spot at the base commonly near Yellow Group 2B.             under surface: commonly near Red-Purple Group 57D, very             little spot at the base commonly near Yellow Group 2B. —             color of the open flower: upper surface: commonly near             Red-Purple Group 58D amply suffused with near Red-Purple             Group 57C, very little spot at the base commonly near Yellow             Group 2B. under surface: commonly near Red-Purple Group 58B             amply suffused with near Red-Purple Group 57C, very little             spot at the base commonly near Yellow Group 2B. — anthers:             number is approximately 68 on average, length is             approximately 0.1 cm on average, coloration is commonly near             Yellow-Orange Group 15A, and arrangement is regular around             styles. — filaments: length is approximately near 0.2 cm on             average and coloration is commonly near Yellow Group 2D. —             styles: length is approximately 0.2 cm on average, the             coloration is commonly near Yellow Group 2D, and the number             is approximately 28 on average. — stigmas: size is             approximately 0.1 cm on average and the coloration is             commonly near Yellow Group 2D. — pollen: not available at             this stage. — hips: size is approximately 1.0 cm on average,             the shape is rounded, and the coloration is commonly near             Red Group 53C. -   Development:     -   -   Vegetation.—Strong.         -   Blooming.—Early in the season, typically May to November,             very abundant and nearly continuous.         -   Tolerance to disease.—Good, and particularly against Black             Spot.

The new ‘MEIRIFTDAY’ variety has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotypic expression may vary somewhat with changes in light intensity and duration, cultural practices, and other environmental conditions. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Landscape Shrub Rose plant characterized by the following combination of characteristics: (a) very abundantly and nearly continuously forms attractive, flat cup-shaped, dark pink colored blossoms, (b) forms attractive, dense, glossy foliage, (c) exhibits good tolerance to diseases, particularly against Black Spot, (d) is very floriferous, and (e) is well suited for providing attractive ornamentation; substantially as herein shown and described. 